Senator pushes vote on WEA

IDC's help sought to avoid Republican blockade

By Casey Seiler

Published 10:18 pm, Monday, June 10, 2013

Women's Coalition, June 10, 2013

Media: Times Union

Albany

A Democratic state senator called on the leader of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference to gridlock the chamber rather than become an accessory to a Republican blockade of the Women's Equality Act.

Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, joined members of the coalition pushing the WEA at a Monday news conference, and suggested that IDC Leader Jeff Klein should block all legislation from coming to the floor of the chamber until his Republican counterpart in the Senate's Majority Coalition, Dean Skelos, agrees to allow a vote on the Women's Equality Act.

Skelos has insisted he'll keep the 10-part bill off the floor as long as it includes a plank codifying reproductive rights protections — a section of the bill Skelos and other critics claim would expand abortion statewide. Klein and the other three members of the IDC support the women's agenda, but have noted that there are not yet 32 confirmed aye votes to pass it.

Krueger pointed out that the Majority Coalition's rules require Klein and Skelos to agree on any bill that comes to the floor. "There are 25, at least, bills on the active list today," she said. " ... That means the two of them agreed on each of those bills. A lot of those bills aren't nearly as important and critical to the women and men of New York state (as the WEA).

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"So I guess I would argue if Jeff Klein really believes that this is an important bill ... why isn't he saying, 'Y'know, Dean, none of these other bills are coming to the floor until this one does'?"

This action would shut down the chamber for the first time since the June 2009 Senate coup crisis.

In his response, IDC spokesman Eric Soufer recalled that episode: "Unfortunately for Sen. Krueger and her handpicked leader John Sampson, those days are over," Soufer said, referencing the recently arrested former Democratic leader who rose to power during the five-week coup.

"Those were the days when progressive legislation died on the floor of the Senate, such as the farm workers bill of rights, ethics reform, and marriage equality, just to name a few. The new approach to governing is negotiation, which is exactly what brought New Yorkers the toughest gun laws in the nation, a higher minimum wage, and the third consecutive on-time budget in 30 years," Soufer continued.

All of the coalition members answered no when asked if they'd be willing to see the abortion plank fall off the bill in order to see its economic-equity and other portions passed.